Six scams that target businesses

From the Better Business Bureau

Posted:
02/19/2013 11:08:59 AM MST

Phishing scams top the list of scams in 2012 that targeted businesses of all sizes. Being vigilant against fraud is not only important for a company's bottom line, it also strengthens customer trust in the business. Becoming a victim of fraud can have a negative financial and reputational impact on your business.

Better Business Bureau Serving Northern Colorado and Wyoming recommends that you train your staffs to look out for common scams that prey on small companies, including:

Phishing emails -- Some phishing emails specifically target small business owners with the goal of hacking into your computer or office network. Common examples include emails pretending to be from the IRS claiming the company is being audited or phony emails from BBB saying your company has received a complaint. If you receive a suspicious email from a government agency or BBB, don't click on any links or open any attachments. Contact the agency or BBB directly to confirm the legitimacy of the email.

Directory Scams -- A perennial problem that has plagued businesses for decades involves deceptive sales for directories. Commonly the scammer will call the business claiming he/she just wants to update the company's entry in an online directory or the scammer might lie about being with Yellow Pages. The business is later billed hundreds of dollars for listing services they didn't agree to or for ads that they thought would be in the Yellow Pages.

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Office Supply Scams -- Some scammers prey on small business owners in hopes they won't notice a bill for office supplies such as toner or paper that the company never ordered. Every year BBB receives thousands of complaints nationwide from small business owners who were deceived by office supply companies and billed for products they didn't want.

Overpayment Scams -- Be extremely cautious if a customer overpays using a check or credit card and then asks you to wire the extra money back to them or to a third party. Overpayment scams target any number of different companies including catering businesses, manufacturers, wholesalers and even sellers on sites such as eBay, Craigslist and Etsy.

Vanity Awards -- While it's flattering to be recognized for your hard work, some awards are just money-making schemes and have no actual merit. If you are approached about receiving a business or leadership award, research the opportunity carefully and be wary if you're asked to pay money.

Stolen Identity -- Scammers will often pretend to be a legitimate company for the purposes of ripping off consumers. When it comes to stolen identity, the company doesn't necessarily lose money, but their reputation is potentially tarnished as angry customers who were ripped off by the scammers think the real company is responsible.

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